Margaret Feinberg’s Latest Book 'The God You Need to Know' Uncovers the Work of the Holy Spirit in Scripture

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Anyone who knows Margaret Feinberg knows that the entire room lights up when she enters. Feinberg is best known for her infectious personality, spirit, and desire to speak truth with love. Feinberg has written a new book entitled The God You Need to Know that introduces readers to the message and power of the Holy Spirit that is found in the Old Testament. Feinberg believes that when we think of the Holy Spirit, we often look to the New Testament; however, she believes that we should look to both books, which is the reason why she decided to tackle this important message that all believers need to know and recognize. 

Crosswalk Headlines: Where were you when the Holy Spirit said to you that you should write this book? 
Margaret Feinberg: In 2019, a couple of worlds ago. I just felt like it was finally time. I've had a relationship with the Holy Spirit for much of my life. I've also seen some of the abuses and the manipulations that can come in the name of the Holy Spirit. I've been hesitant, especially with the audience that I serve, to really tackle that topic. I was ready in 2019, and then 2020 came, and everything was turned upside down. I couldn't find which way was up, so it took me several years of us finding our footing in our own personal lives, but also trying to say, how do we look at the Holy Spirit. 

CWH: Was there one thing or person that inspired you in your writing? 
MF: I discovered a scholar by the name of Jack Levinson out of Texas who had really focused his scholarly studies on the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament. All of a sudden, the scriptures came alive in a whole new way. I grew up in the church and listened to so many sermons, and then suddenly, I started to see that the Holy Spirit's presence and power are in the Old Testament. 

CWH: What do most believers tend to do when studying and reading about the Holy Spirit? 
MF: Most believers tend to jump to acts to learn about the Holy Spirit, which is like showing up on your wedding day and being like, Who's this person? What family are they in? Did we ever date? When we start to go back to the beginning, all the way to the beginning of Genesis and look at the Holy Spirit throughout the Old Testament, we arrive at Acts and, in particular, Acts chapter two, and think, of course, it would happen this way. It's all consistent with who the Holy Spirit is. Sometimes, you look at the Old Testament, which can be kind of boring, but then you'll come across passages reflecting the Holy Spirit's character. 

CWH: How did you decide what Biblical figures and stories to write about? 
MF: Almost 500 references throughout the Old Testament, a hundred of which are really about the Holy Spirit, based on your translation, and how your translation sometimes translates the Spirit as wind or breath. So, there were always mentions throughout the testament that I was reading a translation where I didn't realize that the reference to Spirit was the Holy Spirit, and that really shifted some things and brought stories to the surface that I had never seen before.  

CWH: What are some examples that you point out of the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament?
MF: You see in Genesis, the Holy Spirit hovering over the water, and then you come to Acts chapter two, and what happens is there are tongues of fire that descend and almost hover over those who were gathered there. You start to look at the artisans who are present. David has described that the spirit rested on his tongue. And this is affirmed by Jesus in the New Testament. 

Photo Credit: ©Facebook/Margaret Feinberg

MAINA MWAURA is a freelance writer and journalist who has interviewed over 800 influential leaders, including two US Presidents, three Vice-Presidents, and a variety of others. Maina, is also the author of the Influential Mentor, How the life and legacy of Howard Hendricks Equipped and Inspired a Generation of Leaders. Maina and his family reside in the Kennesaw, Georgia area.